The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-08
THE ILLINOIS CONVENTION.
FIRST DAY.-TUEsDAY, SEPT. 27

nolS Un1verSallSt Convention, convened
in the Bradley Memorial Church, in the
city of Peoria, on Tuesday, Sept 27, al
10 o'clock A. NJ. The President, james
H. Swan, of Chicago, was in the chair
and welcomed the delegates to the
semi centennial meeting of the Conven.
tion, making very neat and appropri-
ate address. Rev. Charles Conklin
offered prayer.
Organization and Committees.
The following Committees were ap-
pointed:
Elections-Seth w. Freeman, Mrs.
George S. Knapp, Mrs. E. H. Rexford.
Resolutions -Revs. T. HI. Tabor and
A. H. Laing; Mrs. H. B. Manford.
Religious Services-Re G.. B. Stock
ing, A. J. Chaplin, Charles S. Nicker-
son.
Nominations F. A. Winkleman,
Rev. j. G.. Adams.
Reports Willard Woodward,
DR.. John Cook, G. F. Hitchcock, Revs.
A. H. Laing, w. F. Small.
The Treasurers Report.
The annual report of the Treasurer,
H. HI. Massey, of Blue Island, was sub
mitted by the Secretary, and took the
usual reference to an Auditing Commit
tee, appointed by the President-W E.
Loomis and Geo. S. Knapp.
The Report of the Executive Committee
was read by the Secretary. 1t was a
carefully prepared and satisfactory doc
ument of eleven pages of legal cap, and
was referred to the Committee on Re-
ports. We give synopsis as follows !:
The report opens with an account of
the meeting of the Executive Board held
October IL, 1886, and outlines the policy
of the Board. It trehearses at some length
the beginning and the present condition
of the movement in North Chicago, known
as the "Church of Our Father" The
condition of things in that church is
shown to be very encouraging The
number of families on the calling list of
the pastor, ninety; members of the Sun
day-school, eighty five; average attend
ance, seventy. 1t speaks almost exult.
ingly Of the determined energy and the
devoted zeal of the members connected
with the organization. It refers TO Wood
lawn Park; speaks of the needs and ad-
vantages of establishing church there
Immediately. A movement can be inau-
gurated there now at an outlay of fifteen
hundred dollars which will be permanent
and progressive. The Executive Board
urge the matter upon the attention of the
friends and of the Convention.
The report then lays before the Con-
vention the plan upon which the mis-
sionary work of the past year has gone
forward, which though not exactly &C.
cording to the methods contemplated by
the Convention at it's session in 1886, yet
it is thought that the results realized by
the course pursued will meet with the
endorsement of the Convention. The
committee speaks encoursgingly of the
work of the State Superintendent and
commends highly his prudence, tact, judg.
ment and consecration to the work.
The parish at Springfield enjoyed
steady and consistent growth under the
care of Br. Connor. But he felt oblig.
ed to resign and no one has been found
to fill his place. The parish is united and
willing and presents fine field for the
right man.
The church property at Morrison has
been decided to the Convention and re-
conveyed to the parish under the usual
conditions. Other parishes have this
matter under consideration.
The financial exhibit shows an increase
in the funds of the Convention from
nearly every source, and very large in
crease in the whole amount expended for
missionary work. The total amount is
four thousand, one hundred and sixty
nine dollars and twenty-five cents.
The report continues with more spe-
cial reference to the severe and earnest
labors of the State Superintendent in his
care over the churches throughout the
State, in assisting them to settle pastors;
in advising and assisting in financial and
other difficulties; in healing dissensione,
il any exist; holding revival services
wherever requested, and performing
such other duties as would, from his po-
sition, devolve upon him. Then follows
a feeling reference to the piety and liber-
ality with which the people of the State
have responded to the calls of the Con-
vention for money or other help as it
was needed. The close of the report is
in tender reference to the half century's
work Of thu CJuv en- ton and looks for
ward with renewed hope to the future
conscious that the work done in the past
is only promise of what is to come.
The State Superintendent,
Rev. l.. W. Brigham, presented his an
nual report, voluminous document,
bristling with facts and figures of inter-
est to the church. 1t will be published
in full in an early issue, the detail char
aeter of the document forbidding any
satisfactory abstract. This report was
also referred to the Committee on Re
ports.
The reading of the renorts consnroad